In telecommunications, attack-time delay is the time needed for a receiver or transmitter to respond to an incoming signal.
For a receiver, the attack-time delay is defined as the time interval from the instant a step radio-frequency signal, at a level equal to the receiver's threshold of sensitivity, is applied to the receiver input, to the instant when the receiver's output amplitude reaches 90% of its steady-state value. If a squelch circuit is operating, the receiver attack-time delay includes the time for the receiver to break squelch.
For a transmitter, the attack-time delay is defined as the interval from the instant the transmitter is keyed-on to the instant the transmitted radio-frequency signal amplitude has increased to a specified level, usually 90% of its key-on steady-state value. The transmitter attack-time delay excludes the time required for automatic antenna tuning.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. (in support of MIL-STD-188).